Pasadena Civic Auditorium

The young children who visit The Pasadena Symphony's free Musical Circus find a wide and wondrous array of interactive, kid-friendly performances awaiting them on Saturday mornings throughout the year under 'the Big Top' -- otherwise known as the Gold Room -- at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. Whether the featured performers dance, sing, tell a tale, play the piano, beat an ancient drum, or pluck the strings of an exotic instrument from the Far East, the kids are captivated.

The Second Annual Pasadena Dance Festival sponsored by Lineage Dance will be held from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The event is for dancers ages 12 and up, from trained to novice, including those who have never taken a dance class. Forty classes will be offered in a variety of dance styles. Dancers will take as many classes, workshops and showcase performances as they wish, or have time for. The day is capped off with the Pasadena Dance Festival Concert, a professional performance beginning at 8 p.m. This year the Los Angles based, internationally acclaimed Lula Washington Dance Theatre, one of the most admired African-American contemporary dance companies, will be one of the companies performing at the concert.

The splendor and beauty of the East will be majestically brought to life with the staged cultural and artistic production, Chinese New Year Spectacular, hosted by Western US Falun Dafa Assn.and New Tang Dynasty Television. The world-renowned Divine Performing Arts company will present the Spectacular at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium from Dec. 30-Jan. 4. Performances blend ancient techniques with modern technology. Involving hundreds of talented dancers and musicians, original scores and custom-designed digital backdrops, these never-before-seen pieces of artistry delight the senses, touch the heart and move the soul.

On Saturday, May 6, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, The Pasadena Symphony will close a chapter of its long history — its 78th Season — with a season finale performance of three works that tell a tale of their own. The concert will open at 8 p.m. with the overture from Glinka's opera "Russlan and Ludmilla," based on poet Alexander Pushkin's satiric fairy tale of the same name, then continue with a work often applauded for its evocation...

When Ruth Ann Bell, president of the Women's Committee of The Pasadena Symphony, and publicity chair Lynn Cooper put their heads together to begin planning the committee's 50th Anniversary Celebration, it didn't take them long to come up with a theme. "The artwork on this year's brochure provided us with the inspiration," explains Cooper, a renowned local artist. "It shows a woman outside the Pasadena Civic Auditorium where the orchestra performs, wearing a large hat. When Christina Fierro, assistant development director at The Pasadena Symphony, saw the graphic, she said, 'Hats Off!

Since joining the ArtNight Pasadena consortium, The Pasadena Symphony has opened what is usually a closed event with a tightly monitored guest list ? a working rehearsal ? to the public at no cost. Music lovers, as well as those who are simply curious, receive a rare opportunity to observe an orchestra as it prepares for an upcoming performance, learn a thing or two as they listen to Music Director Jorge Mester's comments to the musicians, and hear some of their favorite classical works ?

Already well established as a Southern California cultural institution, the Distinguished Speakers Series of Pasadena has again lined up an all-star array of presenters for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. Now in its thirteenth year at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, this season’s speakers include Thomas Friedman , Bob Newhart , Anderson Cooper , Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf , John Bolton , Ken Burns and Greg Mortenson . The Series is sold in subscription packages ranging from $371 for all seven presentations to $214 for a mini-package of four.

The nonstop snapshots of graduates that happened by the minute where taken by friends and family in an attempt to capture the moment. The Flintridge Preparatory School Class of 2006 graduated 99 seniors last Sunday. The commencement ceremony that took place at The Pasadena Civic Auditorium featured the brass ensemble and organ processional beforehand and recessional afterward. "I'm hoping today's ceremony is a memorable and unforgettable day," said John Jackson, holding a bouquet of roses for his graduating girlfriend, Keesha Wilson.

Dennis Miller, the five-time Emmy award-winning talk show host, six-year "Weekend Update" correspondent on "Saturday Night Live," wisecracking analyst for ABC's "Monday Night Football" and the current host of CNBC's "Dennis Miller" will be performing in Pasadena as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. He will be at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on March 16 at 8 p.m. It has been said that Miller is "one of the premiere comedy talents in America today." Like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin before him, his sharp-witted, quick-tongued, hilariously poignant, and always politically incorrect voice chips away at some of our most ridiculous cultural obsessions.

William J. Bennett, considered one of America's most important, influential and respected voices on cultural, political and education issues, is coming to Pasadena as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. He is appearing at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. Emerging as a prominent political figure in the 1980s, Bennett served as President Ronald Reagan's chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (1981-1985), secretary of education (1985-1988) and President George H.W. Bush's "drug czar" (1989-1990)

The Second Annual Pasadena Dance Festival sponsored by Lineage Dance will be held from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The event is for dancers ages 12 and up, from trained to novice, including those who have never taken a dance class. Forty classes will be offered in a variety of dance styles. Dancers will take as many classes, workshops and showcase performances as they wish, or have time for. The day is capped off with the Pasadena Dance Festival Concert, a professional performance beginning at 8 p.m. This year the Los Angles based, internationally acclaimed Lula Washington Dance Theatre, one of the most admired African-American contemporary dance companies, will be one of the companies performing at the concert.

The splendor and beauty of the East will be majestically brought to life with the staged cultural and artistic production, Chinese New Year Spectacular, hosted by Western US Falun Dafa Assn.and New Tang Dynasty Television. The world-renowned Divine Performing Arts company will present the Spectacular at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium from Dec. 30-Jan. 4. Performances blend ancient techniques with modern technology. Involving hundreds of talented dancers and musicians, original scores and custom-designed digital backdrops, these never-before-seen pieces of artistry delight the senses, touch the heart and move the soul.

Already well established as a Southern California cultural institution, the Distinguished Speakers Series of Pasadena has again lined up an all-star array of presenters for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. Now in its thirteenth year at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, this season’s speakers include Thomas Friedman , Bob Newhart , Anderson Cooper , Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf , John Bolton , Ken Burns and Greg Mortenson . The Series is sold in subscription packages ranging from $371 for all seven presentations to $214 for a mini-package of four.

BOOK READING Mary McNamara — Feb. 17, at 1 p.m . Once Upon A Time bookstore will host Los Angeles Times reporter and local resident Mary McNamara, author of “Oscar Season.” She will lead a discussion and signing. Once Upon a Time, 2207 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose. For information call (818) 248-9668. CLASSES Music Appreciation — Feb. 19 through June 3, Tuesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m . Dr. Ted Stern, professor of music at Glendale Community College, will conduct off-campus music appreciation classes for adults in the community.

On Monday, The Pasadena Symphony Association (PSA) announced that the city's two foremost orchestral institutions, the Pasadena Symphony and the Pasadena POPS Orchestra, will be brought together to create one unified and dynamic orchestra that will present performances year-round. This new PSA will be based on the Boston Symphony Orchestra/Boston Pops model, becoming one board and one orchestra with two music directors. However, the PSA will continue to present The Pasadena Symphony winter season at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium under music director Jorge Mester.

When Ruth Ann Bell, president of the Women's Committee of The Pasadena Symphony, and publicity chair Lynn Cooper put their heads together to begin planning the committee's 50th Anniversary Celebration, it didn't take them long to come up with a theme. "The artwork on this year's brochure provided us with the inspiration," explains Cooper, a renowned local artist. "It shows a woman outside the Pasadena Civic Auditorium where the orchestra performs, wearing a large hat. When Christina Fierro, assistant development director at The Pasadena Symphony, saw the graphic, she said, 'Hats Off!

The young children who visit The Pasadena Symphony's free Musical Circus find a wide and wondrous array of interactive, kid-friendly performances awaiting them on Saturday mornings throughout the year under 'the Big Top' -- otherwise known as the Gold Room -- at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena. Whether the featured performers dance, sing, tell a tale, play the piano, beat an ancient drum, or pluck the strings of an exotic instrument from the Far East, the kids are captivated.

Mention Handel's Messiah and most music lovers can't help but think instantly of the holidays, considering how the work has become such a staple of the holiday season. Yet connoisseurs of great choral music who would like to inaugurate the season by venturing beyond the standard holiday repertoire might want to consider attending The Pasadena Symphony's performance of Francis Poulenc's Gloria on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The program will open with Mozart's Symphony No. 31 "Paris," followed by the performance of Poulenc's Gloria , featuring soprano Jamie Chamberlin of whom Alan Rich of the L.A. Weekly wrote, "I would gladly revisit the vocal and comedic talents of Jamie Chamberlin anytime she comes my way."

Since joining the ArtNight Pasadena consortium, The Pasadena Symphony has opened what is usually a closed event with a tightly monitored guest list ? a working rehearsal ? to the public at no cost. Music lovers, as well as those who are simply curious, receive a rare opportunity to observe an orchestra as it prepares for an upcoming performance, learn a thing or two as they listen to Music Director Jorge Mester's comments to the musicians, and hear some of their favorite classical works ?

Families with young children who regularly attend The Pasadena Symphony's Musical Circus will want to take note that the Circus's 'Big Top' will move from its longtime, regular home at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to Caltech's Beckman Auditorium, when the Musical Circus partners with Caltech Public Events to present "A World in Motion" on Saturday, October 14, at 2 p.m. A CineMuse Studios production, "A World in Motion" will provide an entertaining...